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By: Christine Clark on Wed Mar 12, 2008

In spite of all of the hours spent in front of parenting books, after lil' Tiffany grew out of her first pink jumper, shopping for clothes presented a whole new set of parenting head-aches. Many people, particularly new parents, find that the activity of buying clothes for a newborn is over-whelming and daunting. Uncertainty about sizing, comfort and durability add to the stress of picking what's right for the baby in question (and let's not forget keeping the tyke stylish!). With all of that in mind, and given my own experiences, I've put together a couple of principles to keep in mind to assist friends, family, and even you select clothing that's suitable for that little bundle of joy.

Have 4-6 pairs of clothes per growing stage
A rule to keep in mind, and one that's served me well, is that each 3 month period, you should have four to six pieces of clothing, in order to meet your baby's needs. That's not to say that purchasing a few more outfits more is foolish: but be aware that healthy babies grow up fast and can very well outgrow outfits before ever wearing them.

Be aware of your fabrics
Baby clothing should be both comfortable and made of breathable fabric. Clothing with a high cotton content (anywhere from 80% to 100%) is preferable, as it lets the baby's skin breathe and goes far in preventing skin rashes and irritations. Even the cleanest kept house and tidiest nursery have abrasive environmental elements that can negatively affect the babies' skin. Dressing your babies in suitable fabrics will let babies get used to the harsh world outside the womb.

One-piece over two-piece
If we've learned nothing from Charlie's Angels, it's this, you can avoid the potential discomfort that pants cause a belly by dressing in jumpsuits. Jumpsuits or one-piece outfits allow for more breathing room and are far more comfortable for the growing baby, especially throughout nursing.

Snaps, not sew-through
Okay, it's not a hard-&-fast rule, but as any new parent knows, time is precious with a new-born. Snap buttons are much easier to fasten and unfasten than conventional sew-through buttons, such as the ones used in adult clothing. It's important to keep in mind when the you've got to make a quick change of clothes.

High-end clothing brands are higher quality
It doesn't have to always be Fendi over Fisher Price, but the deal is that the higher quality the clothing, the better the fabrics, which are more comfortable for the baby. The clothing also tends to last longer, no small matter when you've got another one on the way! If you're worried about pricing, there are numerous shopping sites that let you comparison shop and find the discounts and deals that might not be available in your region.


Christine Clark is a proud stay-at-home mother of two and novelist living in Tacoma, Washington.